This tunnel to Whittier is single file and cars share with a train
Can you believe we took the RV through this 2 1/2 mile one-way tunnel to Whittier, Alaska? It was crazy and looked like we wouldn’t fit as we approached.
Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel
The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel to Whittier is the longest highway tunnel in North America. Built initially for rail, cars and trains now share the Whittier Tunnel under the mountain. You drive right on top of the tracks!
Waiting in line to go through the Whittier Tunnel.
Check the schedule online before you go, but when we were there, they let you through into Whittier on the half hour and back out of Whittier on the hour. And, of course, there will be pauses for when the train comes through.
It was $38 to go through in our RV pulling our car. A regular passenger vehicle costs $13.
City of Whittier Campground
As you come out of the tunnel, the City of Whittier Campground is on the left right on the water. Pull into your site for beautiful views.
The sites were numbered and had fire pits. There were bathrooms and a dumpster. And there was a beach right next to the campground, but we didn’t check it out.
It’s $20 a night for dry camping. You pay down the road at the harbormaster or one of the self-pay kiosks. And there is cell phone service here!
A Princess cruise ship came in while we were there. And then it disappeared in the fog!
Around Whittier
There’s not much to Whittier.
There are a couple of restaurants and shops.
It looks like the fishing industry is active here.
Trains and tour buses bring loads of people to the cruise ships that dock here.
We drove around to see what’s what. There are beautiful waterfalls all around.
The Bruckner Building
The Bruckner Building was used during the cold war but abandoned by the army in 1966 when they closed the Whittier Army Port. It was the largest building in Alaska and a city under one roof. And the structure was sturdy enough to survive the 1964 earthquake. The building sure looks spooky now, though.
We heard about an excellent trail and went looking for it, but the road to it was closed. So we enjoyed the glacier views instead.
The main attraction for us coming to Whittier was taking the tunnel. So an overnight stay was plenty. If the weather had been less gloomy while we were there, we could see staying a few days to hike and explore more.
Next post: exploring the fishing town of Hope, Alaska
